Trunk



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. F. WULIE'P.

TRUNK.

No. 327,749. Patented Oct. 6, 1 885.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. P. WULFF.

- TRUNK. No. 327.749. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

i i 11111110111114- I q WITNESSES INVENTOR J QW 7M g g ATTORNEYS.

llrnrnn TATES PATENT Orricn.

HENRY F. \VULFF, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

TRUNK.

SPECEFLCATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,749, dated October 6, 1885.

Application filed M'ay 9, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. VVULFF, of San Antonio, in the county of BeXar and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Trunk, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved trunk which is so constructed that it can be erected and adapted for use as a wardrobe, desk, or table, or can be adjusted as a support for a mattress or other bedding.

The invention consists in a trunk formed of two sections hinged to each other on a longitudinal line at the top of the trunk, the front section of the trunk decreasing in width or thickness from the top to the bottom and the rear section increasing in thickness or width from the top to the bottom, so that when the front section is swung up on the rear section a wardrobe or box is formed which increases in width and thickness from top to bottom, and is closed by lids hinged to each other.

The invention also consists in parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved trunk, showing it closed and resting on its back. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same opened and adjusted as a desk. Fig. 3 is a likeperspect-We view showing it adjusted as a table. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional elevation of the trunk, showing it erected. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the device for holding the ends of the hinged shelves.

The trunk is formed of a rear section, A, and a front section, B, the two sections being hinged. to each other at the top of the trunk. The front section, B, increases in width from the bottom toward the top, and the rear section, A, increases in width from the top to ward the bottom. The edges of the front seetion, B, are protected by iron bands B, and on all sides of the trunk wooden straps or slats O are secured to protect the covering of the trunk from coming in contact with the Serial No. 161,981.

(No model.)

ground. On the bottom slats or straps, 0,

rollers or casters 0 are pivoted, to facilitate moving the trunk. The beveled inner edges ofthe end pieces of the front section, B, and

the beveled front edges of the end pieces of the rear section, A, are arranged at such an inclination that they fit against each other when the trunk is closed and when the trunk is openedthatis, when the front section, B, is swung upward and rests on the rear section the front beveled edges of the ends of the bottom and rear section, A, will be in line with the rear beveled edges of the top and front section, B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the slats of the two sections resting against each other to avoid strain on the hinges.

A strap, D, is secured to the back, top, and bottom of the rear section, A, and is provided at one end with a buckle, D, and on the front of the front section, B, a buckle, E, is held at or near the center.

In the front side of the front section, B, a lock, F, is countersunk near the bottom edge, and directly above the said lock a transverse slot, G, is provided for receiving the upper bent end, H, of a hasp, H, which is held on the bottom of the rear section, A, at the front edge,and is formed of two sections, h h,hinged together. The bent part of the hasp has an aperture, a, for the belt of the lock, and the part h of the hasp has an aperture, 1), for the key. The length of the part 7r is equal to the thickness of the front section, B, at the bottom, so that when the hasp is swung against the bottom of the trunk, when the said trunk is closed the part It will rest against the bottom edge of the front section, B, and the part h will restagainst the front of the section B, its bent end H passing into the above-mentioned slot G. The lower end of the strap D, on which the buckle Dis secured. is then folded over the hasp, and the free end of the strap D is passed through the buckle D and drawn taut.

The rear section, A, is provided with ahorizontal partition, J, dividing it into two compartments,and the front or upper section, B, is provided with two horizontal partitions,K and L. From the latter partition, L, vertical partitions M extend to the top of the said section B, thus forming a series of compartments for hats, shirts, or other articles. The space between the upper side of the partition K and the adjacent end of the section B is divided by partitions K into a series of pigeon-holes, which can be closed by a swinging leaf, N, provided with partitions N, corresponding to the partitions K, and dropping within them when the leaf is closed.

The partitions J and L are hinged so that they can be folded down against the'backs of the compartments formed when the trunk is erected, in case they are not to be used, or in case the trunk is to be used for packing larger objects.

To hold the free ends of the said shelves or partitions when they are raised, circular apertures L are formed in the side pieces, and from the said-apertures slots L extend to the inner surfaces of the said side pieces. In the apertures L short metal tubes L are inserted, which are slotted longitudinally, and have flanges L projecting from the said tubes through the slots L in the side pieces. The shelves or partitions J and Lare raised to the horizontal position, and then the tubes L are passed into the apertures L in such a manner that the ends of the shelves are held between the flanges L, as shown in Fig. 5.

The sections A and B are provided with lids O and B, respectively, the said lids being hinged to each other, and the lid 0 being hinged to the front edge of the bottom of the rear section, A. On the hinged edge of the lid B hooks R are provided, which are adapted to catch on rods R", arranged in the hinges by which the sections A and B are hinged together. On the free edge of the lid R a rod, S, is held, or a head can be formed in any other suitable manner to project from the inner surface.

In the inner edge of each end piece of the front section, B, a notch, B, is formed near the hinged end, from the bottom of each of which notches a prong, B projects upwardthat is, in the direction toward the top of the trunk when the same is erected and open. Like notches B, also provided with prongs B are arranged in the beveled edges of the enCs of the rear section, A. Straps I, having buckles l, are each provided at one end with a hook, I and at the opposite end with an eye, I. On the inner surface of the bottom of the rear section, A, a spring, T, is held',on the free end of which a U-shaped staple, T, is secured, the prongs of the staple projecting into aperturesin the bottom of the said section, below which apertures a metal plate, T is held, so as not to project higher than the bottom slats on the bottom of the section A, between which metal plate and the under surface of the sec tion A a recess is formed for receiving aplate, H to which the hasp H is hinged, the Said plate being provided with two apertures, through which the prongs of the staple T pass.

A strap, U, secured to the free end of the spring T, serves as a handle to raise the said spring for the purpose of pulling the ends of the staple out of the apertures in the plate H, and thus permitting of withdrawing the said plate and the hasp.

In the free edge of the lid R a slot, WV, is formed between the rod S and the edge of the lid, through which slot the plate H can be passed when properly inclined, so as to permit two pins, V, projecting from the inner surface of the lid, to pass through the said plate H for the purpose of holding the hasp on the free edge of the said lid R. The hasp can then be swung over the smaller edge of the section B, its bent end passed into the slot G, and the lid thus locked in place.

On the ends of the section Ahandles Z, made of straps, and catches or hooks m are secured. The lids O B are preferably made of sheet metal, but can be made of wood, if desired.

The trunk is used and adjusted in the following manner: The goods, clothes, &c., are packed in the several compartments, the lids placed over the inner surfaces of the sections A B, and the section B swung down in front of the section A. The plate H to which the hasp is fastened, is held by the staple T on the bottom of the section A. The part h of the hasp is swung against the bottom of the section B, the part h against the front of the section B, and the bent part, H, passed through the slot G. Then the key is passed through the hole 6 into the lock, and the parts thus locked together. Then the strap D is passed over the lock in the manner described before. Usually the trunk stands upright that is, on the wider end of the section A, and the smaller or narrower end of the section B.

To open and erect the trunk, the strap D is first loosened, the lock unlocked, and the section B swung from the section A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and held in place by securing the strap D on the buckle E, as shown in Fig. 4.

1f the trunk is to be used as a writing-desk, the ends of the rod S, held on the free end of the lid R, are passed into the notches B and behind the corresponding prongs, B in the beveled edges of the end pieces of its top section, B, as shown in Fig. 2.

If a table is to be formed, the hooks R are passed over the rods R in the hinges, and the upper lid, R, is swung down and is held in place by the straps I, the eyes I on which are placed on the prongs B of the section B, and the hooks I on the straps I catch on the free edge of the lid B, or on the rod on the free edge of the said lid.

Any desired inclination can be given to the lid B by lengthening or shortening the straps I. The lid can be used as a table or like support. By travelers it can also be used as a tray for displaying their goods.

If a low table is required, the ends of the rod S in the free edge of the lid R are passed into the notches B and behind the prongs B in the beveled edges in the ends of the rear or bottom section, A.

When the lids O B are on their sections A ICC B, respectively, the trunk can be laid down so as to rest on the rear and the front-that is, on the back of thesection A and the front of section B-thus forming a support for mattresses or other bedding, the said support increasing in height from the foot end toward the head end.

\Vhen the trunk is opened and erected, it can be placed upon a suitable support, so as to be held a short distance above the floor.

The trunk can be made ornamental, so that it can be used as a wardrobe in a room.

The trunk may be provided with any number of additional straps, catches, or other-locking devices to keep it closed.

If desired, the shelves can be arranged to be stationary, or can be removable, as shown,- so that the entire space is available for packing large or small articles, though the best way would be to provide the shelves with hinges, as shown, so that they can be used either stationary or movable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A trunk formed of two vertical sections hinged to each other at the top of the trunk, the front section of the same, when closed, decreasing in thickness toward the bottom and the other increasing in thickness toward the bottom, and each section being provided with a lid or cover for covering its inner side, said lids or covers being hinged to each other, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. A trunk formed of two longitudinal sec tions hinged to each other at the top of the trunk, each section being provided with a lid or cover for its inner opening, the said lids or covers being hinged to each other, and the lid of the rear section being hinged to the bottom of the said section at the front edge of the said bottom, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, hinged to each other and provided with notches B in the beveled edges of their end pieces, and with the prongs B of the lids O B, hinged to each other, and the rod Sin the free end of the lid It, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, hinged to each other by means of hinges having rods B, of the lids O B, hinged to each other, the lid It being provided at the hinged edge with, hooks It, adapted to catch on the rods R in the hinges, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, both provided with notches B in their beveled edges of their end pieces, and with prongs B, of the lids O R, hinged to each other, and the straps I, having eyes I and hooks I at the ends, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, hinged to each other, of a lock in the bottom part of the front of the section B, and the hinged hasp H, held on the front part of the bottom of the section A, substantially as herein shown and described.

7. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, hinged to each other, of the lock F, held in the lower part of the front of the section B, above which look the transverse slot G is provided in the front of the section B, and of the hinged hasp H, held on the front part of the bottom of the section A, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. In a trunk, the combination, with the side pieces provided with apertures extending from the edges inward, and slots extending from the apertures to the inner surface of the side pieces, of the longitudinally'slotted tubes provided with flanges projecting from the edges of the slots, which tubes are adapted to be inserted in the apertures iu the side pieces, the flanges of the tube projecting through the slots in the side pieces and serving to hold the ends of the shelves or partitions, substantially as herein shown and de scribed.

9. In a trunk, the combination, with the section A, having apertures L L in its sides, and the hinged shelf J, of the flanged tubes L L, substantially as described.

10. In a trunk, the combination, with the section B, of the hinged adjustable shelves L, and the partitions M, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, hinged to each other, of the spring T on the inner bottom surface of the section A, the staple T, held on the free end of the same and passed through the bottom of the section A, the strap U, for raising the staple, and the hasp H, pivoted to a plate, H", provided with apertures, substantially as herein shown and described.

12. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A B, hinged to each other, of the spring T on the inner bottom surface of the section A, the staple T, held in the free end of the same and passed through the bottom of section A, the strip U, for raising the staple, the hasp H, pivoted to a plate, H, provided with apertures, and of the lids O R, hinged to each other, the rod S on the free end of the lid B, and the pins V, projecting from the inner surface of the lid B near its free edge, substantially as herein shown and described.

13. In a trunk, the combination, with the sections A and B, hinged to each other, of the plate T", forming a pocket on the bottom of the section A, the spring T, the staple T, the plate H, the hinged hasp H, hinged to the said plate, and the lock F, held in the front of the section B, near the bottom, substautially as herein shown and described.

J. A. BENAIRDES, Anro. V. IIERNANDEZ. 

